Long term immunotherapy in asthma

ABSTRACT

Slow immunotherapy with aquous extracts of some important chosen inhalant allergens was given to 180 selected atopic asthmatic patients for six months as an initial course. Cases with severe steroid dependent asthma were excluded. Another 130 atopic asthmatics, age and sex matched with the first group were given placebo and symptomatic treatment only. Excellent or significant responses were obtained in 84.4% in the first group compared to 70.8% in the control group. Long-term maintenance [loses for three years were give to 95 patients among the good responders in the first group, and 52 patients of the same group were followed up after stopping the vaccine as controls. Recurrence rates were significantly lower in those who received the long-term regimen [14.7%] compared to those who stopped the vaccine after six months [69.2%] side effects were mild and controllable